Dispensing system and security card for use therewith

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for dispensing items desired by the user in response to the introduction of a valid security card and additional predetermined information. The apparatus includes means for reading data from the security card, keyboard means for introducing additional information and electronic logic for determining the validity of the card and the validity of the predetermined information. A security card is provided including a first area to record the number of uses of said card and a second area to record the date of the last use. The apparatus includes logic to prevent dispensing and to retain the card if the card has been used more than a predetermined number of times or more than once within a predetermined time interval.

YESBT United States Edwards et a1. vi 1.4 1 0 [54] DISPENSING SYSTEM ANDSECURITY CARD FOR USE THEREWITH [72] Inventors: John David Edwards, 21Heathhurst Road, Sanderstead, Surrey; Leonard Perkins, 3 Amhurst Gdws.,Ealing, London W13; John Henry Donald, 34 Chamberley Avenue, LondonSW20; Peter Lee Chappell, 24 Doodcrest K 1, Surrey, all of England; SeanBenjamin Newcombe, 73, Lynnmouth Crescent, Rumney, Cardiff, Wales;Malcolm David Roe, 22 Elmhurst Avenue, Surrey, England Filed: Sept. 1,1970 Appl. No.: 68,650

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 9, 1969 Great Britain.....44,452/69 US. Cl. ..235/6l.7 B, 194/4, 222/2 Int. Cl ..G06k 7/10, G071l/O6, G07f 1 l/OO Field of Search. 194/4; 235/6l.7, 61.7 B, 61.12;

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,245,697 4/1966 Nugent.............2s3/7 151 Oct. 10, 1972 3,401,830 9/1968 Mathews..235/61.7B 3,039,582 6/1962 Simjian ..235/61.7B 3,061,143 10/1962Simjian .;...235/61.7B 3,221,304 11/1965 Enikeieffetal ..235/6l.7B3,564,210 2/1971 Presti ..235/61.7B

Primary Examiner-Daryl W. Cook Attorney-Kenneth L. Miller and Edwin W.Uren [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for dispensing items desired by theuser inresponse to the introduction of a valid security card and additionalpredetermined information. The apparatus includes means for reading datafrom the security card, keyboard means for introducing additionalinformation and electronic logic for determining the validity of thecard and the validity of the predetermined information. A security cardis provided including a first area to record the number of uses of saidcard and a second area to record the date of the last use. The apparatusincludes logic to prevent dispensing and to retain the card if the cardhas been used more than a predetermined number of times or more thanonce within a predetermined time interval.

21 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PATENTEDIIBI 10 I972 3. 697 729 SHEET[1101 12 c RD RETAINED -6 FIG' TAKE CARD EMPTY ENTER NUMBERS I AGAINWAIT s I Q;

FIG.2

F E 16 fl PATENTEUBBI 10 I972 SHEET OEUF 12 FIG.4

PKTENTEnnm 10 m2 .3 897 729 sum on Of 12 o lMl-LANI) BANK To: SortingCode 1 1 1 1 1 I O wow I T y O 11 Card qhil Number I l 9 7 J 4 5 9 I oFrom I l O I 'I o l HRAMiH I IDispense Date I I V O l R0 l ulll inn(.odv U U U U U D U I O O imes Used Q IE I U O PATENTEDIIIII 10 m2 SHEEIus 0F 12 SELECTOR KEY BOARD PUSH BUTTON STORE AND LOGIC 79 1 ['0'COMPARATOR ELL COMPARATOR s l REGISTER COUNTER [28/ I36] I34/ COMPARATORCOMPARATOR S PATENTEM 10 I973 3.697.729

SHEET 07 [1F 12 FIG.|3

s4 s3 PRINTER :02 NUMBER DATE 5 DECISION UNIT EXPIRED MAGNETIC RETURNCARD CONTROL Saw CARD DISPENSE CURRENCY I45] OSCILLATOR SYSTEM /v I42/l59 PIITENTEIJIIBT I0 I12 3.697; 729

SHEET [IBM 12 FIG.I4

r REGISTER DESIGNATION [BIT POSITION I6|5l4I3l2llIO9876543 2l I ACC UlIl T N l lIflBER I I I BRAN%I -I UMBER I I CHECK SPACE CHECK BIT CODEBIT REGISTER CHANNEL HG |5 [LBIT POSITION I 2 3 N A l I I I l l I ICHECK II VORD PER SONAL NUM BER 79 l l I I l v 82 0? B l I l I I I I l II DATE OF LAT USE NUMBER OF PERMITTED USES a3 84 C I l I I I NUMBER OFACTUAL USES LIMIT VALUES "5 I l I I I I I I l PATENTEIJIIII I0 I972sIIIEI DSUF I2 FIG.|6A

SITE DIMPLER 3? 4| EMBOSS PRINTER FA F I I EY| KEY2 uss READ READ ERAsEus4 use usIA use uss c USIB i i i i coNTRoL uNIT SETS KEY 2 OPENS SETSINWARD sETs REsET oscILLAToR GATE LEVEL TIMER! I I sETs RoLLERs .RESETSRoLLERs HUT N IN 0m 5 Dow I usz OPEN AND usIA 5 0R USIB cLosEo I REsETssETs TINIER 2 SETS FAILURE TIMER sTRoaEs FAILURE BISTABLE I (b) CLOSESFLAP I I 1 INWARD LEvEL AND MAIN LOGIC ENABLES DATA READ usz CLOSINGREsET PATH- sTATIc DATA READ AGAIN FROM mm mm sToRE ENERIGIZES RELAYSTO-CONNEGT OPENS AMPLIFIERS To READ HEAD f INWARD LEVEL Eusa OPEN RESETSSTATIC ENABLES READ PATH DYNAMIC READ ENABLE INFORMATION READ FROM CARDINTO STORE I INWARD LEVEL INDICATES THAT CARD READING CLOSES DYNAMIC ISCOMPLETE AND CHECKING I uss CLOSING READ PATH cAN sTART RESETS 2ND READLEvEL PRINT OUT COMPLETE ALLows DEcIsIoN |-D I INWARD LEVEL 8 U54 OPENPATENTEDnm 10 I972 SHEET lDIIF 12 FIG.I6B

SWITCH +V. TO SOLE NOIDS RESETS P. N.

BUTTON STORE- SETS ENTER NO. LAMP- SETS TIMER 3 SUBROUTINE RESETS PUSHHAS THE CUSTOMER ENTERED FOUR FIGURES J Inc I YES IS TIME 20 YESSECONDS? PUSH BUTTONS CHECK P. N.-

SET ENTER NO. LAMP- INHIBIT YES SET TIMERS IS P. N. CORRECT? NO I WAIT 4SECONDS (TIMER ID) SET TIMER 3" SET ENTER NO. LAMP SET AGAIN LAMP- RESETPUSH BUTTON STROBE HAS THE CUSTOMER ENTERED 4 FIGURES? YES I IS TIME 20YES SECONDS? RESET ENTER NO LAMP- RESET AGAIN LAMP INHIBIT PUSHBUTTONS-CHECK P.N. RESET TIMER3 DELAY J DECISION STROBE L FIRST RETAIN Cib I /INFORMATION WRONG SECOND RETAIN RESET DECISION ENABLE SETS ROLLERSOUT SETS 2ND READ LEVEL SETS ROLLERS IN- RESETS ROLLERS OUT USS RESETSFAILURE BISTABLE INHIBITS PRINT OUT OF RESULT OF TRANSACT' ION AFTERLINE FEED mmens RN. suBRou'rmEj SETS CARD RETAIN LAMP SETS TIMERS SHUTDOWN I [2ND READ LEVEL AND use o EFl I SETS INWARD LEVEL] PATENTEI'IIIII10 m2 3.697; 729 SHEET 110F 12 F|G.|6C

7 [INFORMATION QORREQTI sTARTs PRINT OUT OF REsULT OF TRANSACTIONExPIRED 1 NOT ExPIRED [DIsPENsE AND RETAIN DELAY DPERATE EMBOSS sETRoLLERs UP-coUNT PRINTER OUT NUMBER OF TINIEs USED | U85 & DIsPENsE aRETAIN SETS Two START DIMPLE PRocEss FA'LURE B'STABLES COMPLETE sTARTDIsPENsER oPERATE DIMPLE soLENoID MOTOR usze DISPENSE a RETAIN I A jREsETs DNE DISPENSE 8 USB-UNLOGK DELAY SAFE GATE SAFE GATE OPENS SAFEGATE LOCKS DELAY SAFE GATE oLosEs SAFE GATE GETS use To FACIA GATEsDLENoIDs DIsPENsE s USI? DELAY UNLocKs FACIA GATE FAC'A GATE OPENSFACIA GATE LOCKS FAGIA GATE cLosEs cLIP RETURN Usls FLAP oPENs PATENTEDB 10 I972 3.697.729

SHEET 12 0F 12 FIG. 16 D LDISPENSE AND RETURNI DELAY se'rs ERASE 0N.SETS EMBOSS RE-RECORD RELAYS.ON ROLLERS PRINTER UP COUNT AND RESET OUTFIE-RECORD CHECKS RETURN AND us OPEN DELAY RE-REGORD osc RESETS ERASE0N. STARTS RE- RECORD ne-aecono c0N|PLETE| RE-RECORD osc. OFF] RTURN ANDuss START DIMPLE COUNT PROCESS COMPLETE DIMPLE RETURN US2-OPENS GATEGATE OPEN RETURN AND USI AND USI CLOSES -@E1's TAKE CARD LAMP]DISPENSING SYSTEM AND SECURITY CARD FOR USE THEREWITII The presentinvention relates to a dispensing apparatus, system or equipment whichis operable in response to the introduction therein of a valid securitycard and the entering or keying in of predetermined information.

The system or equipment includes security card reading means, and meansfor determining the validity or invalidity of the security card.

There is also provided means for permitting a user of the system orequipment to key in certain predetermined information, which may, forexample, be information which has been memorized by the user and isknown only to the true user or customer and the company or bank whichprovides or makes available such system or equipment.

There is also provided means for determining the validity or invalidityof the predetermined information, and means for dispensing the items,such as currency, desired by the user only if the security card andkeyedin information are both determined to be valid.

The invention also relates to a security card or credit card which isprovided with areas having magnetically recorded data, such as accountnumbers and code numbers.

The inventive securitycard may also be provided with indicia bearing arandomly-applied material or characteristic, such as an amount ofmagnetic material, which is accurately measured or determined before thecard is issued to the intended user or customer.

The security card may also be provided with areas for recording thereinthe number of times the user or customer has successfully used the card,and the date of the most recent successful use of the card.

The inventive apparatus, system or equipment may include means forretaining the security card and for preventing the return of the card tothe user or customer after said card has been introduced into the systemor equipment a predetermined number of times.

The'apparatus, system or equipment may also include means for retainingthe security card and for preventing return of the card to the user whenthe card is or has been introduced into the system more than apredetermined number of times within a predetermined time interval.

The apparatus, system or equipment may also include means for retainingany security card and for preventing return of the card to the user whenthe user fails to key-in the predetermined information which is correctand/or valid after a predetermined number of attempts to do so.

The invention also contemplates an apparatus, system or equipmentwherein the items dispensed by the system or equipment include orcomprise currency.

The apparatus, system or equipment may also include means fordetermining whether or not the value of the items desired by the userexceeds the current balance of funds in the account of the user.

The apparatus, system or equipment may also include means fordetermining whether or not the value of the items desired by the userexceeds a predetermined amount of credit to be extended to the user.

The invention also contemplates the feature wherein various data orinformation is magnetically recorded on the security card in a scrambledor coded form and/or arrangement; and the means for determining thevalidity or invalidity of the security card which is introduced into thesystem or equipment includes means for electronically unscrambling ordecoding the scrambled or coded data or information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention,-thereis provided an apparatus for dispensing items desired by a user of theapparatus in response to the introduction into the apparatus of a validsecurity card and the entering into the apparatus of predeterminedinformation. The apparatus includes first means for permitting the userto introduce a security card into the apparatus, and second means fordetermining the validity or invalidity of 'the security card. There isalso provided third means for reading data which is present on thesecurity card, and fourth means for permitting the user to enter intothe apparatus the predetermined information. The apparatus also includesa fifth means for determining the validity or invalidity of thepredetermined information, and sixth means for dispensing the itemsdesired by the user only after the security card and the predeterminedinformation of both determined by the apparatus to be valid.

In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a novelarticle, such as a security or identification card, which includes abody member and a first predetermined area of the body member withinwhich area there has been applied a random quantity of magneticmaterial.

The article also includes a second predetermined area of the body memberwithin which second area there has been recorded data which ismathematically related to the random quantity of the magnetic materialwhich has been applied within the first predetermined area of the bodymember.

Various purposes and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art as the following detaileddescription of the invention unfolds when taken in conjunction with theappended drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements,and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a front elevationalview of a fascia provided in the external wall of a bank for a firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevational view, partly in section, of theembodiment of the novel apparatus as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a front elevational view, partly in section, of theapparatus shown in FIG. 2 wherein there is depicted the security cardreader, the cash dispenser chute, the printer and paper stack, the powersupply, the printed circuit boards, and the external fascia shown inphantom lines;

FIG. 4 illustrates a back elevational view, partly in section, of theapparatus depicted in the previous figures but also showing the safewhich houses the supply of plastic packages of currency to be dispensedand the return box for the empty plastic packages;

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of a first embodiment of the novelarticle or security card which may be used with the cash dispenserapparatus;

FIG. 6 illustrates a rear view of the article or security card shown inFIG. depicting the large black arrow and the four magnetic recordingstripes or tracks;

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment of the cashdispensing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 with the door of thesafe opened and the other various components of the apparatus slidrearward for clarity and easy access;

FIG. 8 illustrates a front perspective view of the cash dispensingapparatus shown in FIG. 7 wherein the portion of the external wall ofthe bank is shown in section;

FIG. 9 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the plastic package or clipwhich is used for holding the dispensed currency;

FIG. 10 illustrates a typical voucher which is printed automatically bythe cash dispensing apparatus upon each transaction or use of theapparatus by a customer, and shows a typical sorting code number,account number, branch number, dispense date, retention code, the numberof times the security card has been used, and the amount of currencythat has been dispensed, if

' FIGS. ll, 12 and 13 form a composite overall information block diagramfor the entire cash dispensing apparatus or system;

FIG. 14 illustrates the storage for the two tracks or stripes of staticdata which is recorded on the rear side of the security card; 7

FIG. 15 illustrates the storage for the two tracks of dynamic data whichis recorded on the rear side of the security'card; and

FIGS. 16A to 16D illustrate a control unit flow diagram for the overallcash dispensing system or apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention will now bedescribed with reference to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. The description first relates to one particularembodiment of the invention wherein the user, potential customer, ortrue security card holder may obtain currency or money from a bank atany hour of the day or night regardless of whether or not the bank isopened or closed and without the need of a human bank teller.

It should first be pointed out that the bank which provides theinventive cash dispensing apparatus issues a special article or securitycard to its customer. When the customer is issued the security card, heis also given a six digit secret number which is known only to the headoffice of the bank and that particular customer. The customer isrequired to memorize four digits of the six digit secret number whichwill hereinafter be referred to as the PERSONAL NUMBER. It should beemphasized that the customers personal number is not known by theemployees of the various bank branches nor by the persons who maymanufacture or service the cash dispensing apparatus.

With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown the front portion of theexternal fascia 1 of the cash dispensing apparatus as installed in theouter brick wall of a bank. The fascia 1 includes a card slot 2 whereinthe potential customer may insert his security card when he desires toobtain currency. In addition to the security card slot 2, the fascia 1includes a l0-key keyboard 3, a currency delivery slot 4, an emptycurrency package return slot 5, a CARD RETAINED sign 6, a TAKE CARD sign7, and EMPTY sign 8, an ENTER NUM- BERS sign 9, an AGAIN sign l0, and aWAIT sign l1. Normally, the various designations of the signs 6, 7, 8,9, l0 and 11 are not visible to the potential customer until anappropriate lamp is energized in back of a particular sign at the propertime in the sequence of operation of the cash dispensing apparatus.

After the potential customer has inserted his security card into thesecurity card slot 2, there is a predetermined time delay during whichthe cash dispensing apparatus automatically determines whether or notthe security card which has been inserted is a valid or invalid securitycard. Assuming that the potential customer has inserted a valid securitycard in the security card slot 2, the WAIT sign 11 is lighted while thecash dispensing apparatus is performing other automatic checkingprocedures to ultimately determine the validity or invalidity of theinserted security card. During the time when the WAIT sign 11 islighted, the security card which has been inserted into the securitycard slot 2 is drawn into the apparatus so as to be out of reach of thepotential customer and, accordingly, may not be withdrawn by thepotential customer prematurely.

When the inserted security card has been determined to be a validsecurity card, the WAIT sign 11 returns to a non-illuminated condition,and thereupon the ENTER NUMBERS sign 9 becomes illuminated. Thisindicates to the potential customer that he is now required to enter orkey in the four digits of his secret personal number which he haspresumably committed to memory. The potential customer must thereuponkey in the correct digits in their proper sequence, and he must do thiswithin a predetermined interval of time. If the potential customeraccomplishes this. within the allotted time, this will indicate to thecash dispensing apparatus that he is indeed the true customer to whomthe inserted security card has been issued by a bank.

- After the potential customer has correctly entered his personal numberdigits in the correct sequence and allotted time, the ENTER NUMBERS sign9 reverts to its non-illuminated condition, the inserted security cardre-appears at the security card slot 2, and the TAKE CARD sign 7 becomesilluminated. This indicates to the potential customer that he shouldremove his security card from the security card slot 2, and upon doingso, a plastic package of currency will appear at the currency deliveryslot 4. This particular sequence of operations is provided by the cashdispensing apparatus to avoid the situation of having the customerinadvertently leave his security card in the security card slot 2 afterobtaining the desired currency. This sequence compels the customer toremove his security card from the security card slot 2 before any cashor currency will be dispensed to him.

The dispensed plastic package which contains the currency is illustratedin FIG. 9. The particular embodiment of the invention which is heredescribed contemplates dispensing a predetermined amount of currency,for example, ten one-British pound sterling notes.

After the customer has removed the currency from the plastic dispensingpackage 12, he may place the empty package 12 in the plastic packagereturn slot 5.

This enables the bank to re-use the plastic package 12 over and overagain for many dispensings of currency to many customers.

If for some reason the potential customer had failed to enter or key inthe predetermined proper digits of the secret personal number, or hadnot done so in the proper sequence, or had failed to do so within theallotted time interval, then the cash dispensing apparatus wouldautomatically give the potential customer a second opportunity to enterthe correct personal number by using the IO-key keyboard 3 once more.This would be indicated to the potential customer by the simultaneousillumination of signs 9 and designating ENTER NUMBERS AGAIN.

If during this second opportunity the customer successfully andcorrectly enters his personal number using the keyboard 3, then thesecurity card will reappear at security card slot 2, and the package ofcurrency will be dispensed at currency delivery slot 4 in the samesequence as indicated above with reference to an initial successfulentry of the personal number.

However, if the potential customer has failed to correctly enter hispersonal number during the secondopportunity to do so, the signs 9 and10 will revert to their non-illuminated condition, and thereupon theCARD RETAINED sign 6 will become illuminated. Should this occur, thesecurity card which the potential customer has inserted into the slot 2will not be returned to him, and the cash dispensing apparatus willrevert to its normal shut down condition after a predetermined intervalof time, without dispensing any currency to the potential customer.

It should be pointed out that the CARD RETAINED sign 6 may becomeilluminated because of many other conditions, which will be described indetail hereinafter, which differ from the failure to enter the correctpersonal number.

The EMPTY" sign 8 will become illuminated if the supply of packagedcurrency in the cash dispensing apparatus has become depleted.

For the convenience of the potential customers, the fascia 1 should bemounted so that the security card slot is between 32 inches and 56inches above the pavement level.

With reference to FIG. 2, there is shown a side elevational view of aportion of the cash dispenser apparatus. FIG. 2 illustrates the externalfascia 1, the security card transport mechanism 13, the pinch drivewheels 14, the security card reader 15, the currency safe 16, thecurrency dispensing chute l7, and the printer and paper stack 18.

The security card transport mechanism 13 consists of a simple pinchwheel drive including pinch drive wheels 14 which pass the security card19 (which is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6) under seven electromagneticheads which check, read, erase and write upon the security card 19. Thesecurity card 19 may be provided with a reference control or serialnumber 20 (see FIG. 5) on one side of the security card. The card readersection 15 may include a simple embossing printer to print or embossthis reference control or serial number from the security card 19 onto apaper strip, such as one-half inch wide Action paper. A back-up serialprinter is provided in the cash dispensing apparatus as a double checkshould the main printer fail to record the complete details of atransaction when a currency dispensing occurs. When necessary, thisback-up serial printer records the reference control or serial number ofany security card 19 which results in a dispensing of currency. FIG. 2shows the supply reel 21 and the takeup reel 22 for the paper strip ofthe back-up serial printer.

The card reader section 15 also is provided with a dimpler or punchingdevice (not shown) to dimple or punch the security card 19 as anindication of the number of times the security card has been used.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 7, there is shown the currency safe16 which contains a cash dispensing mechanism 23 comprising four stacksof packaged currency. Dispensing occurs from right to left, as viewed inFIG. 7, and changes over automatically to the next stack when the stackto the right has been depleted. Under the proper conditions andoperation of the apparatus, the plastic package 12 containing apredetermined amount of currency will be dispensed from the cashdispensing mechanism 23 down the cash dispensing chute 17 to the gated.currency delivering slot 4. The gate (not shown) provided in the cashdispensing machine 17 is actuated to deliver the package 12 of currencyto the customer only after the customer has removed vhis security card19 from the security card slot 2.

The cash dispensing mechanism 23 automatically changes over from onestack to the next except when reloading of the mechanism 23 isperformed, after which a dispenser recycle switch (not shown) must beoperated to bring the rightmost (as viewed in FIG. 7) loaded stack intouse. This dispenser recycle switch must also be operated whenever thedoor of the currency safe 16 has been opened, in case the cashdispensing mechanism 23 has been disturbed.

FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 7 indicate generally the printer and paper stack 18.The printer and paper stack 18 includes a main printer (not shown) and astack of paper bank vouchers 24, such as the voucher 24 illustrated inFIG. 10, upon which the main printer records the full details of alltransactions of the apparatus regardless of whether a dispensing ofcurrency has occurred or not. It has been found convenient in order toprint or complete the voucher 24 to employ a main printer whichcomprises eight data print modules and four date print modules. Thesemodules are combined counter and print modules, and are able to stepforward one position for each applied count pulse. They embody a rotaryswitch which can be used for read-out or homing facilities.

FIG. 3 shows a front sectional view of the apparatus which includes thepower supply 25. The greater part of the electronic section of theapparatus is a printed circuit board section 26 as shown in FIG. 3. Theprinted circuit board section 26 contains approximately 32 logic andcontrol printed circuit boards each of which contains approximately 25to 30 integrated circuit gates. The logic and control aspects of theinventive cash dispensing apparatus are described in detail hereinafterwith respect to FIGS. 11 through 16.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a back elevational view of the cash dispensingapparatus which includes a container 27 for the empty currency packages12. It will be recalled that the customer removes his currency from theplasticpackage l2, and drops the empty package 12 down the return slotwhich is connected by a chute to the container 27.

FIG. 5 illustrates the front surface 28 of the inventive article orsecurity card 19 which may be used with the cash dispenser apparatus.Because it is vital to a successful operation of the cash dispenserapparatus that the security card 19 be inserted in the security cardslot 2 with the proper surface of the security card 19 facing up and inthe proper direction, the front surface 28 of the security card 19 isprovided with designations such as THIS SIDE UP and the designationINSERT THIS WAY which is associated with a small directional arrow 29.

The front surface 28 of the security card 19 is also provided with anembossed reference serial or control number 20. As previously mentioned,this embossed number 20 is provided as an additional safety feature inthe event of a malfunction of the main printer to record the fulldetails of the transaction on the voucher 24. If desired, the frontsurface 28 may also be provided with the printed designation of theissuing bank and the name of the customer.

The front surface 28 may also be provided with predetermined areas whichare numbered 1 through 20 and which are used to designate how many timesthe security card 19 has been used to obtain currency. Upon each use ofthe security card 19, the previously mentioned dimpler or punchmechanism dimples or punches a hole or perforation in one of thedesignated areas 1 through 20. This readily indicates to the customerthe total number of times the card 19 has already been used. In thisparticular embodiment, the security card 19 is intended for a total of20 usages whereupon the security card 19 is retained by the apparatusand the customer may be' issued a second security card 19. Accordingly,on the 20th use of the card, the card is deemed to have been expired andis therefore retained by the apparatus and not returned to the customer.On such a 20th use of the security card 19, the voucher 24 (illustratedin FIG. will include in the area for the retention code a printed l,indicating that the security card 19 is being retained because the cardis expired. This is one effective way for the issuing bank to makecertain that there is no over use of the security card 19.

FIG. 6 illustrates the rear surface 30 of the security card 19 whichshows the four magnetic recording tracks or stripes 31, 32, 33 and 34,respectively. The magnetic recording stripes 31, 32, 33 and 34 containpredetermined static and dynamic information or data which is recordedusing a very safe and sophisticated coding technique to preventforgeries of security card 19.

To facilitate understanding of the static and dynamic information ordata which is recorded on the magnetic recording stripes 31, 32, 33 and34, it is convenient to assume that stripes 31 and 32 include all thestatic data in which may be termed track No. l and track No. 2; and thatstripes 33 and 34 include all the dynamic information or data in whatmay be termed track No. 3 and track No.4.

Track No. l and track No. 2 may contain in coded form information suchas an account number, a branch sort code number, a cross checkcharacter, a space code character, and a detect code character.

Track No. 3 and track No. 4 contain the dynamic information or data incoded or scrambled form which may include a check word, the personalnumber, various security card checks, a supplementary personal number, adate, the number of times the security card has been used and otherdata. The particular details of the static data recorded in track No. land track No. 2 and'the dynamic data recorded in track No. 3 and trackNo. 4 will become more apparent in connection with the descriptionhereinafter of FIGS. 14, 15 and 16. The terminology static data orinformation as used herein refers generally to data which is constantand need not be updated or altered. The terminology dynamic data orinformation as used herein refers generally to data or information whichis updated, or up-counted, or altered in some other fashion.

It should be noted that the rear side 30 of the security card 19 alsoincludes a first predetermined area or large black arrow 35 whichindicates the direction for correct insertion of the security card 19into the security card slot 2 in the same manner as the small arrow 29on the front surface 28 of the security card 19. However, the largeblack arrow 35 has a more sophisticated function or purpose than merelyindicating the correct direction for inserting the security card 19. Tothe human eye the large black arrow 35 appears to be homogeneously blackand constant in color or composition. However, the apparentlyhomogeneous large black arrow 35 contains a random application of arandom quantity of magnetic material which is not apparent to the casualhuman observer.

Only that random quantity of magnetic material in the large black arrow35 which is positioned within a plurality of preselected rows or tracks,in the form of discrete magnetic spots, is of importance. The additionalamount of magnetic material adds to the security of the system. Beforethe security card 19 is issued to a customer of the bank, these magneticspots within the preselected tracks of arrow 35 are carefully counted.The counting operation is part of a verifying and limit computingprocess which is similar to the operation performed by the card reader15 in the cash dispensing apparatus. To facilitate the counting of thediscrete magnetic spots, an electromagnetic field of a predeterminedfrequency produced by an oscillator is applied to the predeterminedtracks of the arrow 35. The arrow 35 which is thus energized by theoscillator field is then read to determine the number of energizedmagnetic spots in the arrow 35. This number is subjected to amathematical transformation to arrive at two related limits. Theselimits, which may have any desired mathematical relation to the actualnumber of spots, are included, in coded form, in magnetic stripes 33 or34, (track No. 3 or track No. 4) as the so-called security check limits.

As a simplified example, assume that the mathematical transformationsare l.lN and 0.95N where N represents the number of spots. Then, if N300 for a particular card, the limits would be 330 and 285 and obviouslythe relationship between N and the limits is that N must fall betweenthe limits. In practice the bank may select virtually any mathematicaltransformation to derive the limits and require virtually anymathematical relationship between the number and the limits.

One of the several checks performed by the cash dispensing apparatus todetermine the validity or invalidity of the inserted security card 19 isan energization of the preselected rows or tracks of the large blackarrow 35, a reading of the thus energized tracks, and a comparison ofthe read value with the security check limits which have been encoded onmagnetic stripes 33 or 34. In other words, when the security card 19 isactually inserted in the cash dispensing apparatus during a dispensingtransaction, the inserted security card 19 will be determined to beinvalid if the value read from the energized black arrow 35 is notproperly mathematically related to the security check limits which havebeen encoded in scrambled or coded form on magnetic stripes 33 or 34.

In addition to the 20-use limitation on each security card 19, there isanother limitation to prevent over-use of the security card 19. Duringeach dispensing operation with a particular security card 19, the dateof the dispensing transaction is encoded on magnetic stripe 33 or 34.This date is up-dated at each dispensing operation or use of thesecurity card 19. At each insertion of the security card 19 into thecash dispensing apparatus the date which is encoded on the card iscompared with the actual date stored in the electronics of the cashdispensing apparatus. If the comparison of the dates reveals that thedate encoded on the security card 19 is the same date as stored in theelectronic apparatus, then no currency will be dispensed to thepotential customer and, in addition, the inserted security card 19 willbe retained by the apparatus. Consequently, each security card 19 cannotbe used more than once during the same day, nor more than 20 times intotal.

With reference to FIG. 7, there is shown a perspective view of the cashdispensing apparatus from the rear showing the various components slidrearwardly for easy servicing and access. The door of the currency safe16 is shown in an open position to illustrate the four stacks of thedispensing mechanism. The entire cash dispensing apparatus in an actualembodiment has dimensions of6 by 2 by 3 feet.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the cash dispensing apparatusas installed in the external brick wall of a bank. This installationarrangement makes the cash dispensing apparatus virtually vandal proofand minimizes exposure of essential components of the apparatus to theelements. In an actual operating embodiment of the cash dispensingapparatus, it has been found advantageous to fabricate the externalfascia 1 from stainless steel. If desired, the l-key keyboard may bearranged at a 30 slanting angle relative to the remaining portions ofthe external fascia 1.'

With reference to FIG. 9, there is shown a preferred embodiment of theplastic package or clip 12 which is used for dispensing the currency.The plastic package 12 is provided with a thumb hole 36. With referenceto FIGS. 7 and 9, the plastic packages 12 holding the predeterminedamount of currency for dispensing are loaded into the four stacks of thedispensing mechanism 23 by first placing the machine inhibit switch (notshown) in a down position to prevent potential customers from operatingthe machine during currency reloading, and then loading the plasticpackages 12 so that the open end faces to the left and the thumb hole 36is at the bottom.

As shown in FIG. 10, there is printed on the bank voucher 24 a six digitsorting code which is sometimes referred to throughout the specificationas a branch sort code, and an eight digit account number. Both thebranch sort code and the account number are part of the staticinformation or data and are printed by the aforementioned eight dataprint module of the main printer.

Should a security card be retained by the apparatus for any reason, theeight data modules of the main printer will print a retention code whichindicates the reason for the retention. The first possible retentioncode is a printed l which means that the security card which has beeninserted into the cash dispensing apparatus is an expired card; or inother words, that this is the twentieth use of the inserted securitycard. The second possible retention code is a printed 2 which means thatthe personal number has been entered or keyed in incorrectly upon twoopportunities to do so. The third possible retention code is a printed3" which means that the security card 19 which has been inserted intothe cash dispensing apparatus was already inserted in the apparatus fora currency dispensing earlier on that same day. The fourth possibleretention code is a printed 4 which means that the value obtained byreading the energized large black arrow 35 on the security card 19 whichhas been inserted into the apparatus is mathematically incorrectrelative to the values encoded in scrambled form on magnetic stripe 33or 34 as part of the dynamic information or data.

The fifth possible retention code is a printed 5 which indicates anabnormal condition in the parity check. The sixth possible retentioncode is a printed 6 indicating an abnormal condition in the cross check.The seventh possible retention code is a printed 7" which indicates anabnormal condition in the code check. The reasons for the fifth, sixthand seventh retention codes will become more apparent in connection withthe figures following FIG. 10 and the further description hereinafter.

The eight data modules of the main printer also prints the number oftimes the inserted security card has been used, which as indicatedabove, cannot exceed 20 uses. The eight data modules of the main printerwill also print out the predetermined amount of dispensed currency,which in the case of the voucher 24 illustrated in FIG. 10 is 10 Britishpounds.

The aforementioned four date print modules of the main printerautomatically prints the dispense date on the voucher 24. Theillustrated dispense date indicates the month and day and omits anydesignation of the year.

As a variation in the printing arrangement for the dispense date, thefour date print modules of the main printer can be used to include theleast significant digit of the year too. In such an arrangement, twozero to nine l0-position modules are employed for the unit days and l0sof days, and are connected so that a single day impulse will step thecount from one through to 31. A oneto l2-position module is utilized forthe months, and a further zero to nine position module is utilized forthe least significant digit of the year.

In the field cryptography it must be appreciated that there are manymethods of encoding a message which depend on the degree of securitynecessary. In one relatively simple system each letter in the message isreplaced by a different letter to form a coded message; a constantlinear relationship applies between each letter in the normal text andeach letter in the coded text. Thus all occurrences of a particularletter in the message are encoded in the same fashion in the encodedtext. This may be referred to as a monoalphabetic substitution. A moresophisticated type of coding scheme uses a polyalphabetic substitutionwherein a different alphabet may be used to encode each letter of thetext. Thus all occurrences of a particular letter are usually encodeddifferently.

In addition to encoding each letter from the text to obtain the codedmessage, the arrangement of the letters in the coded message may berearranged. Again, any desired degree of sophistication may be used inthe rearrangement technique and, in a given system, several techniquesmay be used simultaneously as long as each message has some indicationof which technique is being used. Therefore, by way of example only, ifthe fifth character in the encoded message is not a message of text butrefers solely to the method of encryption, (coding and/or arrangement)then for the English alphabet 26 methods of encryptionmay be usedsimultaneously.

Since the particular encryption method is not critical for a completeunderstanding of the operation of the present system and apparatus,terminology such as scrambler, decoder, or distributor will be used andshould be construed to include all the necessary electronic logicrequired to perform the encryption or decoding functions. For example,the decoder and distributor or demultiplexer will include the logic fortranslating the information from coded text to plain text and also willinclude the logic necessary to feed the information in appropriatefashion into a storage register. Thus the arrangement of the data aswell as the encryption technique are immaterial as long as the logic ofthe decoder and distributor satisfactorily provides the output to thenecessary portions of any storage means or register.

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 illustrate a composite overall information blockdiagram for the entire cash dispensing apparatus or system. Withreference to FIG. 1 1, there is illustrated a read head 37 which isconnected to relays 38 by electrical conductors 39 and 40. There is alsoa read head 41 which is connected to the relays 38 by electricalconductors 42 and 43. The static information which was encoded on trackNo. l and track No. 2 on the security card 19 is read by the read head37. The dynamic data encoded on track No. 3 and track No. 4 of thesecurity card 19 is read by the read head 41.

The output of relays 38 is connected along line 44 to a decoder anddistributor or demultiplexer 49. Decoder and distributor 49 performs thefunction of decoding (demultiplexing) the scrambled information read bythe read head 37 and, in addition, through the necessary logic andgating providing an output on line 52 to the storage register 53. By wayof illustration, register 53 may be a 16 by 6 register and is more fullydescribed with reference to FIG. 14. Since the static is stored inregister 53, register 53 is often referred to as a static store. Theoutput of the static register 53 is connected by the line 61 to aselector 62 (FIG. 12) which, in turn, is connected via line 63 to themain printer 64 (FIG. 13). The main printer 64 is the same main printerwhich was mentioned earlier in the description and which comprises theeight data print modules and the four date print modules which wereutilized for printing various information on the bank voucher 24 whichis illustrated in FIG. 10. (The back-up printer is not shown in FIG.13).

With reference back to FIG. 11, the output of the relays 38 is alsoconnected on line 50 to the decoder and distributor or demultiplexer 51.The output of the decoder and distributor 51 is connected on line to astorage register 77, often referred to as a dynamic store. The output ofregister 77 along line goes to a scrambler or encoder 116. The input toregister 77 on line 70 is determined by the internal logic of thedecoder and distributor 51. The register 77 is more fully described withreference to FIG. 15.

With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, a line 79 feeds the output ofregister 77 to one input of a two input comparator 98. When the personalnumber information is entered by means of the pushbutton or keyboard 3,the signal appears on information line 88 and is conveyed to keyboard orpushbutton storage and logic 89. Keyboard logic 89 converts the signalto the same logical form which is being used' in register 77 and thekeyboard logic output on line 90 goes as the other input to thetwo inputcomparator 98. When the comparator 98 is strobed or sampled by a pulseon line S an appropriate signal appears on line 101 indicating to thedecision unit 102 (FIG. 13) whether or not the information on the cardand keyboard agree.

With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, another output from register 77 isconnected on line 82 to one input of a comparator 126. The date, whichis generated internally, is provided on date information input 119 andfed to the other input of comparator 126. When comparator 126 issampled, by a pulse on line S the present date is compared to the dateof the last transaction. The result of this comparison is sent on line127 to the decision unit 102 and, since this must be changed on thesecurity card 19, the present date is also sent on line 128 to scrambler116.

As indicated previously, each card may only be used a predeterminednumber of times. To ascertain the number of past uses, another outputfrom register 77 is provided on line 83 to a register or counter 130.Register 130 has two outputs one of which is connected to scrambler 116,on line 132, and the other of which is connected on line 133 to acomparator 134. The comparator 134 operates to make certain that anexpired signal is sent out after the predetermined number of uses of thesecurity card. The cash dispensing apparatus provides a counterincrement signal on line 135 leading to the counter 130 to make surethat the current use of the security card 19 is added to the totalnumber of uses for the inserted card. Normally, the output of thecounter 130 is conveyed via output line 132 to the scrambler 116.However, if the current use of the inserted security card 19 is the 20thuse, the comparator 134 generates and transmits an expired signal online 136 which is conveyed to the decision unit 102 in FIG. 13.

With reference to FIG. 13 there is illustrated an oscillator system 142which cooperates with the relays 38 via line 143 to evaluate therandomly applied random quantity of magnetic material which is withinthe predetermined tracks or areas on the large black arrow 35 asdiscussed with the explanation of FIG. 6. The output of oscillatorsystem 142 is transmitted via line 145 as one input to the magneticmaterial comparator 146.

Referring back to FIGS. 11 and 12 another output from register 77 online 84 is connected to the magnetic material comparator 146. Thisinformation is also conveyed to the scrambler 116 on line 152. The limitvalues, which have been encoded in scrambled form on the insertedsecurity card 19, are decoded by the decoder 51. In this case thedecoding operation also serves to decode the precise mathematicalrelationship desired and converts the information into a workable binaryform to be transmitted on line 84 to the comparator 146. Since the otherinput to comparator 146 is the actual reading taken from the large blackarrow 35 at the time the card is inserted, the output when comparator146 is sampled indicates whether or not the appropriate mathematicalrelationship has been satisfied. The output of comparator 146 isconnected on line 153 to the decision unit 102 in FIG. 13.

Thus the information presented to the decision unit 102 includes a checkof the personal identification number, the number of uses, the date ofthe last use and the amount of magnetic material. Furthermore, some ofthis information is sent to the scrambler 116 on lines 128 and 132. Theoutput of the scrambler is connected on line 157 back to the relays 38.In this fashion, the information can be scrambled and re-recorded on thesecurity card 19. To permit re-recording the read heads 37 and 41 mayalso be used as write heads. For this reason the relays 38 include acontrol input 159 to select the appropriate read or write mode ofoperation.

To facilitate a more complete understanding of the operation andfunctioning of the composite information block diagram of FIGS. 11, 12,and 13 it is best to first consider and describe FIGS. 14, 15, and 16.Where applicable, the same reference numerals are used throughout thefigures to designate similar or identical components.

Referring to FIG. 14, there is shown the storage register 53 whichstores the static data from tracks 1 and 2. Once the data is decoded thedistribution portion of decoder 49 provides, through the appropriatelogic gates, the output along line 52 into the register 53. For thepurpose of illustration the storage register 53 is considered to be a 6by 16 register. Thus, once the data is decoded or unscrambled anddemultiplexed (distributed), the data appears as 16 characters, eachcomprised of six binary information bits. Again, the particular order ofthe information on the security card and the particular order ofentering the information into the register 53 is not critical to aproper understanding of the principle of this system. Suffice it to saythat the distribution function is performed to put the data in aworkable form such as that illustrated in FIG. 14.

Once the data has been loaded into register 53 it may be considered asincluding a check bit, to insure the data has been loaded properly, asix digit number representing the bank branch or any other desiredsorting code as mentioned in connection with the printed voucher 24illustrated in FIG. 10, and a space code, that is, the binaryconfiguration ofa blank space. In addition, register 53 also includes aneight character number representing the customers account. One of thenumbers in the customers account, shown by way of example as bit 16, maybe used as a check bit. This check bit may also be referred to as a codecheck character which was previously mentioned in connection with theseven possible retention codes wherein the security card 19 would not bereturned to the customer and wherein a printed numeral indicating anabnormal code condition in the code check was printed on the bankvoucher 24. As also illustrated in FIG. 14 the output of register 53 isselectively taken along lead 61 to a selector 62. This is to permitdesired information to be printed as indicated previously with thediscussion of the bank voucher 24 in FIG. 10.

Referring next to FIG. 15 the register 77 will be explained. Thescrambled and encoded information which is on tracks 3 and 4 is decodedand demultiplexed by the decoder 51 to provide information on line 70 tothe appropriate portions of the register 77. Register 77, by way ofexample, may be a three channel register having a sufficient number ofbit positions. Ultimately, the information from register 77 istransmitted by output line 115 to the scrambler 116 to be rerecorded onthe security card 19.

FIG. 15 shows, in a representative form, a possible arrangement ofdynamic data in register 77. In addition to the data illustrated in FIG.15 other data such as check bits and parity bits can be employed asdesired. By way of example, channel A may include a checkword and thepersonal number of the user, channel B can include the date of the lastuse and the number of uses permitted on this particular card, andchannel C may include the number of actual uses and the limit values forthe mathematical relationship of the comparison of the amount ofmagnetic material. The output lines 79, 82, 83'and 84 illustrate thatinformation from portions of the register 77 is used as inputs to thevarious comparators of the system.

Referring again to FIG. 13 there is shown a control unit 175. Controlunit operates to provide sample or strobe pulses S to the comparators,controls the printing of information by printer 64, and controls theselection of the read or write'mode of the magnetic heads 37 and 41 (online 159). The control unit receives a signal on line 168 from decisionunit 102 indicating the validity of the security card 19 and thevalidity of the information supplied by the user. The control unit alsocontrols dispensing of currency, and the retention of the security cardwhen it has expired or when incorrect information appears on the card oris supplied by the user. While most of the connections from control unit175 have been omitted, for clarity, they are explained with reference toFIG. 16. Control unit 175 operates as various microswitches are actuatedas will be explained with reference to FIG. 16.

FIG. 16 mentioned earlier comprises a composite control unit flowdiagram for the entire currency dispensing apparatus consisting of FIGS.16A, 16B, 16C and 16D. In this particular embodiment of the currencydispensing apparatus a microswitch must operate after each operation.The symbol 8 is used in the various parts of FIG. 16 to represent amicroswitch.

The upper portion of FIG. 16A shows a representative illustration of thecard reader section 15, the card transport mechanism 13, some of themicroswitches, and the various magnetic head positions. The security

1. Apparatus for authenticating a credit or security card and its use inresponse to the introduction into said apparatus of said security cardand the entering into said apparatus of predetermined information,comprising: means for verifying that a particular security card isvalid, said verifying means including an oscillator and a transducer forquantizing a characteristic of magnetic material deposited on discreteareas of said security card, and means for reading encoded information,representative of said characteristic, and data on said security card,means for permitting a user of said apparatus to enter personalidentification information into said apparatus, means for determining ifsaid personal identification information corresponds to said data, andmeans for authorizing the use of said security card only if the card isverified and if said personal identification information corresponds tosaid data.
 2. An apparatus characterized in accordance with claim 1,wherein said information which is present on said security card ismagnetically recorded on said security card in a coded or scrambledform, and said means for determining if said personal identificationinformation corresponds to said data includes means for electronicallydecoding said coded or scrambled data.
 3. An apparatus characterized inaccordance with claim 1, including means for recording on said securitycard the total number of times said security card has been employed toobtain the dispensed items, and means to permit said apparatus to retainsaid security card when said security card has been employed fordispensing items a predetermined number of total times.
 4. An apparatuscharacterized in accordance with claim 1, including means for normallyreturning said security card to said user before said items aredispensed to said user.
 5. An apparatus characterized in accordance withclaim 1, wherein said security card includes a body member having afirst predetermined area within which there has been applied a randomquantity of magnetic material, said security card also including asecond predetermined area within which there has been recordedinformation which is representative of said random quantity of saidmagnetic material which has been applied within said first predeterminedarea, said oscillator for energizing said magnetic material and saidtransducer including associated circuitry for reading the value of thethus energized magnetic material, said information which is read by saidreading means being representative of said random quantity of magneticmaterial, and said verifying means includes means for comparing saidrecorded information which is representative of said random quantity ofmagnetic material with the value obtained by reading said energizedmagnetic material.
 6. An apparatus characterized in accordance withclaim 1, wherein said security card is provided with indicia bearing arandomly-applied amount of magnetic material which is accuratelymeasured before the card is issued to said user.
 7. An apparatuscharacterized in accordance with claim 1, including means for recordingon said security card the date of the most recent successful use of thatparticular security card and means to permit said apparatus to retainsaid card when said card is presented within a predetermined time aftersaid most recent successful use of said security card.
 8. An apparatusfor dispensing articles desired by a user of said apparatus in responseto the introduction in said apparatus of a valid security card and theentering into said apparatus of a secret memorized personal number,comprising, in combination: means for permitting said user to introducesaid security card into said apparatus; means for reading and checkingthe data which is magnetically encoded in scrambled form on saidsecurity card; means for determining the validity of said card; akeyboard for permitting said user to enter into said apparatus saidsecret memorized personal number; means for determining the validity orinvalidity of said entered personal number by comparing said personalnumber with the data read from said security card; said security cardbeing provided with indicia bearing a randomly-applied amount ofmagnetic material which is accurately measured before the card is issuedto said user; the data representing the accurate measurement of theamount of magnetic material being encoded as part of said data which ispresent on said security card; said reading and checking means includingmeans for reading said indicia to obtain a signal representative of theamount of magnetic material borne by said indicia and means forcomparing said signal with said data which represents the accuratemeasurement of the amount of said magnetic material; means fordispensing said articles desired by said user only after said securitycard and said secret memorized personal number are both determined bysaid apparatus to be valid; and means for permitting said articles to bedispensed to said user only after said user has removed his securitycard from said apparatus.
 9. An apparatus characterized in accordancewith claim 8, including means for retaining said security card and forpreventing the return of said security card to said user when said userhas failed to enter into said apparatus the correct secret memorizedpersonal number after a predetermined number of attempts to do so. 10.An apparatus characterized in accordance with claim 8, wherein said datais magnetically recorded on said security card in a scrambled or codedarrangement, and wherein said means for determining the validity of saidsecurity card which is introduced into said apparatus includes means forelectronically decoding said scrambled or coded arrangement of data. 11.An article comprising, in combination: a body member; a firstpredetErmined area on said body member; said first predetermined areacontaining a quantity of material which is capable of being influencedby an electromagnetic field; a second predetermined area on said bodymember; said second predetermined area containing data which isrepresentative of said quantity of said material which lies withincertain portions of said first predetermined area on said body member.12. An article characterized in accordance with claim 11, wherein saidquantity of material within said first predetermined area is capable ofbeing detected and measured after said material is influenced by apredetermined electromagnetic field, and said data within said secondpredetermined area includes values mathematically related to thedetected or measured quantity of material.
 13. An article, such as asecurity card, a credit card or an identification card, comprising, incombination: a body member; a first predetermined area on said bodymember; said first predetermined area containing a randomly-appliedquantity of magnetic material; a second predetermined area on said bodymember; and said second predetermined area containing data which isrepresentative of said quantity of said magnetic material which lieswithin said first predetermined area on said body member.
 14. An articlecharacterized in accordance with claim 13, including a thirdpredetermined area on said body member, said third predetermined areaproviding a visible indication of the total number of times said articlehas been employed for its intended purpose.
 15. A security card for usein conjunction with an apparatus for dispensing items desired by a userof said apparatus, comprising, in combination: a body member having afirst predetermined area in the shape of an arrow for indicating thecorrect direction for inserting said security card into said apparatus;said arrow containing a randomly distributed quantity of magneticmaterial portions of which are accurately measured before said securitycard is issued to said user; said body member having a secondpredetermined area within which is encoded various recorded data; andsaid recorded data includes information which is mathematically relatedto said accurately measured quantity of said magnetic material.
 16. Asecurity card characterized in accordance with claim 15, wherein saidrecorded data also includes information which corresponds to a personalnumber which is memorized by said user and which is required to beentered into said apparatus by said user before said apparatus willdispense the items desired.
 17. A security card characterized inaccordance with claim 15, including a third predetermined area on saidbody member wherein there is provided a visible indication of the totalnumber of times said security card has been employed for a successfuldispensing of said item.
 18. An apparatus for verifying that aparticular credit card is authorized for use, comprising: a credit cardincluding discrete areas of magnetic material deposited thereon andinformation encoded thereon which is mathematically related to asecurity value of the deposited magnetic material, means including anoscillator and a transducer for determining the security value of themagnetic material deposited on said card, means for reading the encodedinformation on said card, means for comparing the security value and theencoded information and for ascertaining the validity of said creditcard.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said transducer andoscillator determine said security value by measuring a predeterminedplurality of said discrete areas of magnetic material.
 20. The apparatusof claim 19 wherein said magnetic material is randomly applied.
 21. Theapparatus of claim 19 wherein said encoded information is in a scrambledform and said means for reading includes electronically unscramblingsaid information.